Michael Jackson’s dad Joe Jackson dies, aged 89

Joe Jackson passed away at 3.30am on Wednesday at the age of 89 following a battle with cancer, TMZ reports.

The retired talent manager – who is best known for handling the careers of his kids, including late son Michael Jackson – had been in hospital for some time, with his wife Katherine and some of his children and grandchildren by his side, and his passing was not unexpected as it was revealed hours before his death that he was “too weak” to even return to his Las Vegas home to live out his final days.

A source said: “He had planned to go to his home in Vegas to live out his final days, but that has not happened. Joe is very weak and getting significantly weaker. It’s now a waiting game, and the end could come at any time.”

News of his ill health was made public last week, when his son Jermaine revealed Joe was close to death.

He said: “He’s very very frail, he doesn’t have long. The family needs to be by his bedside – that’s our only intention in his final days.”

Joe, suffered from diabetes and was also believed to have a form of dementia, suffered a stroke in Brazil in 2015 which left him temporarily blind.

He was hospitalised in 2016 with a high fever after falling during a routine check-up.

Also watch: Joe talks at the 2009 BET Awards Joe Jackson after the death of his son Michael.